Furnace for obtaining metal from ore or matte.



J. J. ANDERSON. FURNACE FOR OBTAINING METAL FROM ORE 0R MATTE.

APPLICATION FILED NIB. 9, 1911.

1,020,531 Patented Mar. 19,1912.

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JAMES J. ANDERSON, 0F VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA.

FURNACE FOR OBTAINING METAL FROM ORE OR MATTE.

Application filed February 9, 1911.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JAMES J. ANDERSON, acitizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at Vancouver, in theProvince of British Columbia, Canada, have invented a new and usefulFurnace for Obtaining Metal from Ore or Matte, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to a means for obtaining metal from ore or matteby a continuous process, whereby satisfactory results may be obtainedmuch more economically than can be at present accomplished by any of theknown processes as conducted in a reverberatory furnace or a converterwhich require to be periodically charged.

The invention is a modification of that set forth in my applicationsfiled December 18, 1905, Serial Nos. 292267 and 292268, respectively, ona furnace and process for abstracting metal from ore, the improvementbeing particularly directed to prevent portions of ore falling into thehearth or receptacle for the molten metal and slag before they have beenfused or rendered fluid.

In this invention, as in the previous one, a reducing flame of gas orcrude oil is directed into an exposed restricted face of the ore ormatte, and the material fused by that concentrated application of heat,is allowed to run into a hearth where being maintained at a hightemperature complete separation of the metal from its gangue will beeffected by gravity and the metal and slag may be tapped from separateapertures provided.

The invention is particularly described in the following specification,reference being made to the drawings by which it is accompanied, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross section through a double furnaceparticularly designed to effect the reduction of copper from coppermatte, and Fig. 2, a sectional plan of the same on the line A A in Fig.l.

The furnace consists of a substantially rectangular brick chambersupported on a suitable foundation. In its mid-length there is anopening 1 in the roof of the chamber which opening is at the base of ahopper 5 into which the matte is delivered. Immediately under theopening 4 at the base of the hopper the chamber is divided by apartition extending across it and having a double slope 2 from themiddle of the aper ture 4, within which aperture the ridge may project,and terminating approximately im- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 19, 1912.

Serial No. 607,581.

mediately under the inner sides of the opening 4. From the base of theslope 2 on each side a ledge 3 is formed leaving a restricted opening 7between it and the roof of the chamber and delivering to a combustionchamber 8 on each side. The bottom of the combustion chamber forms ahearth for the reception of the molten metal and slag as it is fused andis provided with a tapping aperture 11 in the level of the bottom forthe withdrawal of the metal and overflow 10 for the slag.

In each opposite end of the furnace chamber and horizontally in linewith the passage 7 from the bottom of the ore or matte hopper areburners 12 of any approved design that will direct a powerful fusing andreducing flame upon the exposed face of the matte at 7. Such number ofthese burners as may be required, may be arranged across the width ofthe furnace to insure the maintenance of sufficient heat in thecombustion chamber and effectively act upon the exposed surface of thematte at 7 In use the matte is charged into the hopper at 5 and theinclines of 2 will direct it toward the lateral apertures 7 to thecombustion chamber where it will be checked on the ledge 3 of each andretained there until under the fusing action of the burner flames theore and its gangue is melted and runs over the edge of 3 into the hearthforming the bottom of the combustion chamber 8. As the ore on theexposed face melts and runs down, its place will be taken by freshmaterial sliding down the incline at 2 from the hopper 5.

The essential feature of this invention as distinguishing this furnacefrom the one revealed in the patent referred to in the pre separatethemselves by gravity. The fusing and separation of the ore beingconducted in a closed chamber from which air is excluded the reductionof the metal of the ore is fully effected, and the ore hopper beingcharged from above and self-feeding toward the fusing face the operationis practically continuous which is a manifest saving, both in labor andfuel and more uniform results are obtainable.

The furnace will be constructed with an arched roof and in accordancewith the most approved practice for such furnaces.

Care must be taken that the walls of the combustion chamber andparticularly those portions of it adjacent to the exposed face of theore at 7 are built of refractory brick that will resist the heat of theflame and the action of the flux with which the ore may be associated.

Having now particularly described my invention and the manner of its useI hereby declare that what I claim as new and desire to be protected inby Letters Patent, is:

A furnace for obtaining metal from ore or matte, said furnace comprisinga hopper having a bottom downwardly inclined toward a restricted lateralinlet to a combustion chamber, a horizontal ledge at the base of. theincline at the said inlet and means for projecting a reducing blastacross the combustion chamber against the exposed face of the ore at theinlet from the hopper and on the ledge.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES J. ANDERSON.

Witnesses:

ROWLAND BRITTAIN, WM. SMITH SOUTAR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

